January 2053 has started with a bruising run of three matches in seven days for Chelsea, whose grip on the Premier League has loosened slightly after back-to-back away frustrations — though a resounding Carabao Cup semi-final win at home offered some catharsis.
🟡 1 Jan: Newcastle 2–2 Chelsea (Premier Division)
For 90 minutes, it was all going to plan. Netanel Sahar opened the scoring in the 15th, and Kieran O’Sullivan made it 2–0 with a confident strike in the 82nd. Then came chaos in stoppage time — Marcelo (90+4′) and Bryan (90+5′) turned St. James’ Park upside down with two goals in 90 seconds to snatch a point. Managerial fury on the touchline. Two points dropped.
🟡 4 Jan: Man City 0–0 Chelsea (Premier Division)
A tense, high-level tactical stalemate at the Etihad. Both sides defended resolutely, and while Chelsea had better individual performances — especially Luther Banton (7.9) and Joby Holwell (7.3) in goal — they couldn’t find the killer ball. That’s two draws in a row, and a dip in momentum as Man UFC and Liverpool edge closer in the table.
🟢 7 Jan: Chelsea 4–1 Man City (Carabao Cup Semi-Final, 1st Leg)
Relief. Ruthlessness. Reaction. Three Rs that defined Chelsea’s bounce-back at the Drogba Arena. Netanel Sahar (14′, 37′) was electric, Joseph Haigh controlled the tempo, and Cristiano Messina came off the bench to cap it at 4–1. The tie isn’t over — but it almost is.
Next up? Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Luton in the league. Time to put the wobble behind them — or risk letting the title race back in.